Northwestern University Schizophrenia Research Group Wants to Share Research

On behalf of the Northwestern University Schizophrenia Research Group, I want to wish NAMI at DuPage County a Happy Holiday Season.

Our group is eager to build a relationship with each NAMI affiliate as roughly 50% of consumers with schizophrenia are involved with their family. However, it has been difficult to recruit consumers with schizophrenia and their families to join our research efforts. We'd like to reach out and try to present some of our research to your chapter in hopes to educate consumers and families and to begin building long-term relationships.

Our available presenters from Northwestern University include:

Dr. John Csernansky, M.D., Chairman of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Csernansky is a leader in the field of using brain imaging to study schizophrenia. His research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Participation in his study includes $2000 worth of free cognitive testing and a summary of the results can be shared (with the participant's consent) with treatment teams.

Dr. Morris Goldman, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Goldman's research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and examines the influence of oxytocin, a hormone therapy, to improve social deficits for consumers with schizophrenia.

Dr. Matthew J. Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Smith's early research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and examined the impact of schizophrenia on family caregivers. His current research is examining how impairments in empathy are related to poorer social functioning for consumers with schizophrenia.

Dr. Will Cronenwett, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Cronenwett's research is funded by Novartis and is a Phase I clinical trial to look at the influence of medication on improving cognition in consumers with schizophrenia. His research is also looking at how the anatomy of the brain can be used to help classify mental illness.

Please let us know if NAMI at DuPage County would be interested in our Professor's giving a talk, and how we can help promote the event.

Thank you for your time, Jeevan Chechakunnil Abraham Community Coordinator Northwestern University Schizophrenia Research Group